K11 Owners Group

Che sera sera · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:49 am Post subject: One less K1100rs

Three weeks ago while commuting home a car pulled out in front of me, from a junction on the left. I was initially doing about 50mph (the speed limit on the road) but guess I had managed to slow to about 30mph at the point of impact. I hit the front wing of the car, was thrown clear of the bike then rolled along the road for a while.

I was very lucky. No bones broken, just severe bruising and twisting. Pretty much back to normal now. Bike is confirmed as a write-off, and am awaiting a financial settlement. Other driver has admitted liability and has been charged with careless driving.

This is my first accident in circa 20 yrs/150,000 miles of motorcycling and it has severely undermined my confidence. Although I'm convinced that there was nothing further I could have done to avoid the accident, I still worry that I might be losing the "edge" which has kept me safe these past years (I commute all year round, in very heavy traffic). There is also, obviously, the knowledge of how differently things might have turned out. My wife says she has always worried about getting "that" call whenever I'm on the bike, and I also have a 6 yr old son who only now is grasping the reality of what might have been.

I've therefore decided not to replace the bike and damaged clothing etc, but instead to take to the car like so many millions of others. At least for the foreseeable future.

This is an incredibly difficult decision. Biking has given me endless fun and enjoyment as well as provided years of stress free commuting (was 35 mins on a bike, now upto 1hr 20+ in a car). It has been a big part of my life - I like to think it has kept me younger in outlook, a sharper and better road user and has set me apart from the masses in some small way. So this is what I'm giving up, at least for now.

It is all the more frustrating that I had only recently cured an intermittent problem (water in fuel - see tech section) after many hours of investigation, and fitted new RAM HT leads just 30 miles prior to the incident!

So, at least for now, many thanks to those who have given sound technical advice and encouragement, and I hope you all enjoy many more years and miles of safe riding.
_________________
'96 K1100rs
'93 r1100rs (probably on the way out)

drikko · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:18 am Post subject:

Glad yer OKish, and don't feel bad, it took me 22 years before I got brave enough to get back in the saddle after my spill. It's a difficult experience which you'll get through eventually. Enjoy the car and your family in the meantime Smile

_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

kbmwrs · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:26 am Post subject:

So sorry to read about your accident. Maybe get back on a bike but with a different purpose...for fun. You have been beating the odds by riding as a commuter on a bike. Now ride for fun on holiday or weekends. Get away from the major traffic. Although it could happen anywhere your odds of being in one alone on a country road are greatly diminished.
_________________
Mike Gullery
"Beemerhead"
'06 K1200GT
KOG#43

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:46 am Post subject:

Good to hear that you are (mostly) OK.

Don't be a stranger here. Even without a K bike, your experience is an asset to the OG.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:46 am Post subject:

No broken bones? Wow, very lucky. Glad to hear that you made it out of this in once piece.

I've never commuted on a bike but I think the routine of it might tend to make one complacent. (At least in my case. Not saying that's true in your case.)

No matter how good a rider you are though, cars can come out of nowhere and leave you no out.

It's good to hear that the driver a) took responsibility and b) got cited. If something like that happened in the US you'd be lucky if the driver got a $50 failure to yield ticket.

I'd say having a six year old son is a very good reason to take some time off to reconsider.

Cheers
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:54 am Post subject:

Just out of curiosity: Did you haul off on both brakes and let the ABS do it's thing or use a more controlled braking technique?
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:12 am Post subject:

I might add that after our kids were born, I sold my Honda 900 Supersport.

Didn't get another until our son (younger of the 2) was over 16.

Just in case of an incident..........
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

John Clauss · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:24 pm Post subject:

I commuted daily for years. You do tend to get a bit jaded and lose focus more easily. That said I really enjoyed commuting. I could make it to work MUCH quicker than in the car, and I saved a lot on gas as well. My house was 23 miles from work, but the ride could take a while because of traffic. All of my more memorable commutes happened on the bike, but only once in those years was it close to an accident.

Glad to hear you are back to normal. I agree with the others, maybe a change of atmosphere and simply ride for fun and not work. But if you are going to be scared and not confident, do not ride!
_________________
1997 K1100LT
1975 R75/6

It will bring you so close to nausea, it will make you sick! - Big Al

abreeze · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:52 pm Post subject:

i feel your pain brother....

ive been off my feet for 7weeks now, i have a 3 & 5 yr old boys. So, lots of those thoughts are in your head. Being struck by a cager out to kill you leaves a bad picture at night in your sleep....no one can blame you for wanting a break(no matter how long)....

Drake....as a cummuter(for 25yrs) in atlanta...i can tell you, you get complacent. and even though I was not at fault(in my hit), complacency was a factor...I am going to reavailuate my riding to minimize the "no win situation"...and im already doing it driving a car!!

One thing ive realized, is that i could of done the same damage(to myself), snow sking, playing basketball, cleaning the gutters or just riding a bike. So, i guess, my point is....what is the risk/reward ratio we are willing to take...and sitting at home on my ass for 7 long ass boring weeks, has made me realize......"i dont wanna get fucked up, but i also wanna live life to its fullest."

Che, glad your ok.....

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:54 pm Post subject:

k11pfc · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:39 am Post subject:

My best biking buddy was in a similar no blame prang, no injuries luckily, and he now doesn't ride, in fact he is scared of bikes these days, so this guy who pulled out of his driveway right into my mates path, has ruined his riding days and mine to boot, we used to tour France and Belgium a couple of times a year visiting First and second world war cemetaries and sites, and inevitably getting merry on beer and wine in the evening talking to the locals, manys the night we had a lock in at some French or Belgium bar. All now gone because of careless driving.
I am sorry about your accident and am glad no injury was sustained, but it was wasn't it? the joy of motorcycling has been robbed from you, and sadly, unless you are a biker you just don't understand. Good luck for the future, I hope you can find the courage to ride again one day.

abreeze · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:48 pm Post subject:

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:37 pm Post subject:

I road bike and mtn bike ride and race the mtn bike tandem.

Plus I snowboard.

I do try to control my "environment" to lessen risks as much as possible.

But it is the oblivious cage driver that scares the crap outta' me. The forces are so much greater with motorized collisions.
Even though the chances are very low, a life changing accident or fatality is so much more likely on a MC than when I am pedaling in the woods.

And densely populated areas are so much more so (one of the reasons I live in a town of 600 people)
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:22 pm Post subject:

Yeah, how many times does a 4,000 pound tree "not see you" and take you out when you're skiing?
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Milton · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:34 pm Post subject:

Niemand · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 12:21 am Post subject: Re: One less K1100rs

While I'm glad you made it through relatively intact, I'm sorry to hear about the mental side effects you are dealing with. I have a trio of young children myself, and can only imagine what you're going through.

[***REDACTED*** Sorry if you missed it.]

Take care.
_________________
Niemand

1994 K1100RS
2023 DR650SE

blue95lt · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 12:57 pm Post subject: bikes meeting cages

Che sera sera,
There are two types' of motorcyclest in the world : those that have crashed and those that are going to crash!!
I Met mine in '89 on an 82 650 honda nighthawk,still have a steel rod in my leg that hurts when the weather changes drastically.
If SKY SIX is done with you on earth,you'er a goner but if he's not then u will be fine.
keith (blue95lt)
_________________
1995 k1100lt daily ride(22953)when I got it
1982 cb650sc blue nighthawk (38000)(crashed)
1974 kz400(sold to get nighthawk)

Che sera sera · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:56 am Post subject:

Thanks all for your concerns.

Bruising etc 95% healed and well on the way to full (physical) recovery now. Been paid out for the bike and now "enjoying" a car instead.

This thread has thrown up a couple of interesting points for me. To answer an earlier question about braking; I've had abs equipped bikes for about 6 yrs. I initially had to train my brain to "grab everything" in an emergency and let the computer figure it out, as I think it would do a better job than I could (the whole point of abs, I suppose). So in this instance, I think/hope I did just that.

The other is about commuting vs doing it for fun. I've tended to think that using the bike every day in challenging commuting conditions kept me at the top of my game. I thought (perhaps still think) that the feel of balance, tyre contact, traffic awareness etc is best if kept current - e.g. it becomes more second nature with practice. I'm sure I've read somewhere that riders are more at risk when they ride occassionally (maybe after taking the winter off). Interesting to consider the counter-argument.

Anyway, I'll hang around here for a while - it feels good to still talk bike matters even if I've no longer got one.

Cheers all.
_________________
'96 K1100rs
'93 r1100rs (probably on the way out)

kbmwrs · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:12 am Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:36 am Post subject:

I just think of it as a video game - but you only have ONE quarter.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE